Flexible policeman&#39;s club.



No. 897,201. PATENTED AUG. 25, ,1908.'

J. T. GANNON. FLEXIBLE POLICEMAN'S CLUB.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1907.

JAMES 'l. GANNON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

FLEXIBLE POLICEMANS CLUB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

Application filed September 28, 1907. Serial No. 394,965.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs T. GANNoN, a

citizen of the United States, residing in thecity and county of Denver and State of Colo rado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Policemens Clubs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it app ertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in policemens clubs.

My improved device consists of a flexible club composed mainly of rubber or other elastic or flexible material.

My improved club is provided with a central opening adapted to be filled with some material as sand and shot or both to increase its weight. The opening in the handle portion of the club is filled with a cylindrical rod composed of wood or other suitable material and whose inner extremity is cone-shaped and surrounded by small balls or spherical bodies which engage the conical extremity of the rod and give a sort of ball bearing effect at the point where the club bends when used, whereby the portion of the club forward of the handle automatically returns to its normal position. This ball bearing feature is important in a flexible club, in order to insure the automatic return of its body portion or member after it is bent as is necessary when in use. The central opening at the opposite ends of the club, is closed by rubber plugs which are vulcanized thereto thus making the plugs practically integral with the rubber portion.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in Which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

I11 this drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved policemans club. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections taken on the lines 33 and 4-4: respectively, of Fig. 1.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate my improved club considered in its entirety. This club consists of a body member 6 and a handle member 7. The club is composed mainly of flexible material preferably rubber and is provided with a central longitudinal opening. The handle member 7 is provided with a rod 8 which may be composed of wood or other suitable material, whereby the handle member is made stiff or rigid. The forward or inner extremity of this rod is cone-shaped as shown at 9. Immediately forward and in contact with the cone-shaped extremity of the rod, the central opening in the club is filled with small balls or spherical bodies 10 while above these balls 1 0, the opening is filled with shot 12 and sand 13 suitably mingled for the purpose. This filling increases the weight of the flexible body member of the club. The opposite ends of the club are filled with rubber plugs 14 which are vulcanized in place thus entirely concealing the rod 8 at one extremity and the filling of the club at the opposite extremity.

The handle portion of the club is provided with a flexible handpiece or loop 15 whose opposite extremities are held in place by rubber collars 16 and 17 which may be secured in place by vulcanization. By virtue of the cone-shaped extremity of the rod 8 and the bearing balls 10 in contact therewith, the automatic return of the body member 6 of the club when bent as in the act of striking, is assured.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A policemans club composed of flexible material and having a central longitudinal opening, a rod in the opening through the handle portion for stiffening purposes, said rod having a coned inner extremity for the purpose set forth, the opening in the body portion forward of the handle being filled with suitable material to increase the weight, substantially as described.

2. A club of the class described composed of flexible material provided with a longi tudinal opening, a stiffening rod in the opening through the handle portion, the said rod having a substantially cone-shaped inner extremity, bearing balls filling the portion of the opening forward and in contact with the cone-shaped extremity of the rod, the opening forward of these balls being filled with some material to increase the weight of the body member of the club, substantially as described.

3. A club of the class described, composed mainly of rubber or similar elastic material, having a central longitudinal opening, a stiffening rod in the portion of the rubber forming the handle portion, the inner extremity of the said rod being substantially cone-shaped, the opening forward of the rod and in immediate contact with its coneshaped extremity, being filled with small spherical bodies while the opening forward of these bodies contains sand and shot for the purpose of increasing the weight of the body member of the club, the opposite extremities of the central opening being filled with rub ber plugs secured by vulcanization, substantially as described.

i. A club of the class described, composedi mainly of rubber and having a central longitudinal opening, a stiffening rod inserted in the opening through the handle portion only of the club, the opening forward of the rod being filled with some material adapted to increase the weight of the body member of the club, and a handpieee or loop secured to the club at the extremities of its handle portion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature l in presence of two witnesses.

' JAMES T. GANNON.

itnesses DIGNA NnrisoN, O'rro 1G. lilODDIOK. 

